The State Railway of Thailand will begin the construction of a station for the Thai-Chinese high-speed train project in Ayutthaya province this month, in parallel with the laying of the tracks between Map Kabao and Thanon Jira Junction, also in Ayutthaya, according to Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote.
Surapong and his team were in Ayutthaya yesterday to inspect the track laying progress. They were welcomed by a group of residents, holding a banner announcing their support for the building of a train station in their province.
Conservation groups have, however, voiced opposition to the station project, claiming that it will threaten the UNESCO World Heritage site in Ayutthaya.
The deputy transport minister offered an assurance that the station is located about 1.5 km away from the world heritage site, with the Pasak River in between, making it impossible for the train project to encroach on the world heritage site.
He insisted that the station has been designed to accommodate the needs of the local people and tourists visiting the ancient city of Ayutthaya, as it will have green spaces, sufficient car parking, beautiful landscaping and other facilities.
The SRT, in cooperation with the Faculty of Archaeology at Silpakorn University, has conducted a heritage impact assessment (HIA) of the high-speed train project, the first study of its kind, to ease concerns over any possible impacts on the ancient city.